The Awakening Shift

Body Painted Cyclist

The Earth is an alive sentient being with cycles of aliveness expressed as the solstices and the equinoxes.  On the New Earth, we will be very much aware of these and will celebrate them through ceremonies of joy, creativity and connectedness. Yesterday I had just such an experience.  It was so much fun and such a good way to honor the earth and be joyful that I am using this post to share some photos and themes I noticed in the celebration.

Freedom  To Be Peculiar! 

The event was the Summer Solstice Fair in Seattle’s Fremont district. This annual event has the motto, “De Libertas Quirkas” – Freedom to be Peculiar! which it definitely lived up to. A high point of the whole Fair is the Fremont Solstice Parade which is both peculiar and eclectic.   This earth friendly parade was non commercial – no logos allowed  - and had no motorized vehicles – all floats are powered by humans  pushing and pulling  them.

Their brochure says the parade celebrates the longest day of the year through profound street theater, public spectacle and a kaleidoscope of joyous human expressions. Sure sounds like the New Earth to me. Here are the highlights:

Flower Lady

The parade starts with the peculiar which I think qualifies as a  public spectacle.  A large group of men and women ride through the streets on bicycles  dressed only in body paint. And wow! what an expression of artistry and creativity. There is everything from flower covered bodies to zebra body art and glittery angels and fairies.

Yellow Submarine

Yellow Submarine    

A huge yellow submarine  rolled up the street accompanied by the happy go lucky Beatle’s song, We all Live in a Yellow Submarine.  To me this represents living in joy and being a kid. And if you were quick, you could have your picture taken in a rolling wood cut out of the Beatles. On the spot, be John, Ringo, George or Paul!

 

The Flying Spaghetti Monster   

 If you wanted to have community and connection with other solstice celebrants, you could lay in the street while a huge 20 foot beach ball rolled over you. Then there were representations of diverse religious views  – angels, pagan’s and the flying spaghetti monster.  Diversity was reflected every place in the parade – a clear acceptance of all views and all people. This is how we will think on the New Earth. 

Flying Spaghetti Monster

Free Hugs

 And finally there was love and peace for all.   A group who gave free hugs, mingled with the crowd giving hugs to anyone who wanted one.  One man had a tree branches on his body – he was a ’ tree hugger’ – double duty there. You could get a hug and hug a tree at the same time.  Yes, a true expression of the New Earth – where we are all one and know it. Then there were three peace flags furled in the wind – a statement of what we want for all beings on the planet.

 

There you have it – a peculiar, joyful and unique way to celebrate the Summer Solstice. You can  see an album of photos from the parade on my Facebook FanPage.

 

The actual solstice happens on Monday, so even though you may not have something as unique as this to do, I encourage you  to celebrate the solstice in your own way.